Paul's heart of service

14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Romans 1:16–17 NASB95

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

So, again, I ask the question, have you ever, do you feel indebted, or obligated to someone, or for something?

Paul points out some spiritual truths played out in the material world in our passage today.

Heart of service passage

Romans 15:22–23 NASB95

22 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you

Romans 15:24 NASB95

24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—

Romans 15:25–26 NASB95

25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

Romans 15:27 NASB95

27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

Romans 15:28–29 NASB95

28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Romans 15:30 NASB95

30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,

Romans 15:31 NASB95

31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints;

Romans 15:32–33 NASB95

32 so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Any general observations?

What deduction can you draw from (v.23)

When is Paul planning to go to Rome (v.24)

How is Paul able to go to Rome (vv.25-26)?

Why are the Gentiles indebted to the saints in Jerusalem (v.27)?

What was Paul sure that he was coming with (v. 29)?

What does Paul ask for them to do (v.30) and it carries over to (v.31-32)

What is Paul’s hope, desire for them (v.33)?

Paul’s heart/desire to serve them in Rome

Have you ever longed to do something but just have not been able to do it?

Paul had, but for good reason, the message was being very productive where he was and it still needed to be finished there. Now that the message had gone out and there was no place further for him in that region he longed to go to Spain, via them first

He hoped, longed for their partnership (v.24); He wanted to spend time with them first.

Romans 15:24 NLT

24 I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey.

Paul’s longing for service was was sacrifice here, let me show you.

It was costly trip; Paul was near Corinth when this was penned, he was heading to Jerusalem to bring the gift to the poor saints there first (v.26) about 800 miles. Then he was going to stop in Rome, about 1500 miles from Jerusalem then from Rome to Spain another 700 miles. Almost all of this by boat. He considered the extra milage, going out of the way well worth the cost.

Ministry is often going out of the way for others, it comes with sacrifice. Jesus spoke of sacrifice, and ministry can even make you feel uncomfortable, but that is pale in comparison to Jesus sacrifice (consider Lk9:22-23)

Luke 9:22–23 NASB95

22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.” 23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

Sometimes plans do not work out as you plan. Did Paul get to Rome? Did he get there as he planned?

He did bring the gospel to people that had not heard it, but not the ones he planned to. He brought it to Caesar’s household.

Paul’s indebted servitude

Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles and the Gentiles from a great indebtedness to the saints in Jerusalem (Rom15:25-27)

Romans 15:27 GNB

27 That decision was their own; but, as a matter of fact, they have an obligation to help them. Since the Jews shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles, the Gentiles ought to use their material blessings to help the Jews.

Jesus broke the barrier wall down (Eph2:14) and Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom11:13) so, of course he wanted to go to the birthplace of the church (Act2) to deliver the gift.

Paul felt not just indebted to the saints in Jerusalem, but to the whole world (again Rom1:14)

Romans 1:14 GNB

14 For I have an obligation to all peoples, to the civilized and to the savage, to the educated and to the ignorant.

He knew that the Gentiles were indebted to the Jews since they brought the Good News to them through Jesus Christ.

Isreal had the patriarchs the promises, the law, the covenants, the prophecies, and the Christ that brought the fulfillment of the Good News to the Gentiles

For the Christ was the Lord over all (Rom9:4-5)

Romans 9:4–5 NASB95

4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Through the Lord over all, Jesus, the Gentiles were able to be grafted in (you can look at (Rom11:17-25)

Romans 11:18 NASB95

18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.

The fruit (the gift) they were giving was not out of obligation, but out of love, a love of the Lord for the spiritual gift of salvation that was given to them.

Paul’s servitude in prayer

When you think about elements of prayer, what elements do you think should be in there?

Look at our verses see what Paul has in there.

But first you see he asks them to “strive” with him. Other versions say struggle, be fervent, wrestling with him in prayer, to agonize is a definition of it.

Then the prayer asks for two things, physical protection and productive relations

Physical protection needed (v.31)

He knew going to Jerusalem was dangerous (Act11:10-14)

Have you ever gone on and done something that you knew was dangerous anyways?

Paul was doing it so that he may come to them in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in them.

Well as you know he did make it there, just not how he planned to.

He came with a shipwreck along the way that brought the gospel to an island; He was a prisoner and it brought the gospel to some roman guards; he was brought before the government and brought the gospel to Caesars household.

So, maybe things maynot go the way we plan, but God’s plan is bigger than our plans and we need to trust His plans.